Bernice Olson

Bernice Margaret Petersen was born August 2, 1915 in Crawford County, IA to parents John and Lulu (Smith) Petersen. Shew grew up and attended school in Iowa. In January 1940 she was united in marriage to Ralph O. Olson in Waco, Texas. The couple made their home in Iowa for several years before moving to Minnesota. Bernice worked at Butterfield Foods and Tony Downs Foods for more than 37 years. She served as President of the UFCW Union for 11 of those years before her retirement. She was also a member of the VFW Auxilary. She enjoyed playing Bingo, cards with her siblings and watching Minnesota sports on TV. She loved the time spent with her family and her grandchildren. Bernice Olson passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the St. James Health Services Hospital in St. James at the age of 92 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 2 daughters Beverly Olson and Betty Sanns, son Orrin, brothers Raymond, Jack, Alfred, Les Petersen, sister Clara Hatala and son-in-law Andres Rodriguez She is survived by her children and their spouses Orwin Chuck and Linda Wilkinson of Western Grove, AR, Curtis and Sandra Olson, William Olson, Gerald Olson, Tom and Denise Olson, Sharon Rodriguez all of St. James, sisters Dorothy Shirey of Jackson, MO, Audrey Klien of Dunlap, IA, Retia Petersen of St. James, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Loretta Petersen of Denison, IA and Betty Petersen of Omaha, NE.